Netbooks - Cheaper LaptopsNetbooks, the latest tribe of laptops has got the world singing in their praise. They are smaller and a lot cheaper than traditional laptops but offer most of the features that you find in their big brothers. And, that’s precisely what makes them so exciting. Netbooks have come to fill the gap between a modern smartphone and the traditional laptop. In smartphones, you have to settle with a miniature display and a cramped keyboard. A laptop removes those limitations but it expects you to have deeper pockets – these beasts are expensive. Netbooks, also referred as mini-laptops, bring a new option to those who like what a laptop has to offer but want it at a smartphone's price. Why Netbook? Netbooks are specially designed notebooks that offer: Web Access Netbooks come equipped with all the connectivity features like Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth to keep you connected to internet. This is one feature that a Netbook will never let you down on. Productivity/Communication Netbooks come pre-loaded with productivity software. If it’s running on windows, you’ll get your familiar MS Office to create documents, presentations, excel sheets and more. On Linux, you could use free word editing software like OpenOffice to accomplish the same tasks. Portability They weigh lesser than laptops. You can conveniently carry them around in college campus, airport or hotel lobbies, balconies or backyards – even if you haven’t been frequenting a gym. Energy Efficiency Netbooks run on low-speed processors that consume lesser power so you save there too. Basic Computing These are personal computers with smaller power. You can do virtually anything with them as long as you don’t run many applications simultaneously or one that alone can grind the machine to halt. Affordability These mini-laptops are highly affordable. Their prices start somewhere from $299 (In India, from about Rupees 18,000/-) compared to traditional laptops that start from $500. The price puts them in the league of high end smartphones. (Netbooks in India)
What’s the Catch? What do Netbooks Lack? Netbooks sound too good to be true – what’s the catch? Correct, such a drastic price reduction can only be possible by sacrificing some aspects of laptops and those are: Speed The biggest thing that a mini compromises upon is the processing speed. A laptop has the freedom to go for high-speed processors, even challenging the power of a PC desktop. But a netbook processor ranges from 1.6 to 1.66 GHz. And usually, it’s Intel Atom processor that is specifically designed to keep the cost and power consumption low. This limit renders netbooks weak when it comes to real computing. You cannot, for example, run software like Adobe Photoshop that requires more memory and processing power. Screen While laptop screen sizes range from 14 inch all the way to 17.5 inch, netbook screen size ranges between 8 inch and 11 inch. Some recent models are also offering 12 inch displays. Keyboard You will only find maximum 74-78 keys in a mini-laptop compared to 104 in a traditional laptop. The size of keys is certainly larger than what you see in a handheld but it won’t be same as in a full size laptop. Memory RAM in Netbook is also limited – most come with 1GB RAM expandable up to 2GB. The hard-drive capacity is not that big of a compromise. You’ll normally get 160GB HDD which is large enough for common needs and can be easily complimented by external storage. DVD/CD-ROM Drive Okay, think you never had it at the first place. Netbooks do away with DVD/CD-ROM device because they add both price as well as weight to the machine. If you badly need one, you can opt for an external drive.
Who the Netbooks are for?
Who should avoid Netbooks?
So yes, there are some limitations but the idea is to give a cheap alternative to those who will be more than happy with what a netbook embodies. They don’t have to pay the laptop price just to use its basic functions. To me, the real drawback is speed (RAM and Processor), others we can address by add-on solutions. People who want supernatural speed should opt for laptops instead. Netbooks will work for such buyers only if they have a second more robust computer at home/office.
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